Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-09-10
HOW The COLONEL DIED.

progressing III Soou cuAHSSt pcioic VIC
colonel realized it.
Too old for active service, the colo
mel remained at home with his daugh-
ter and his grandchildren, leaving his
5ons and his s~on-in-law to represent
him in the field.
When the first she'll exploded III the
city the colonel was at the dinner ia
bic.
That is a she'll" he remarked
quietly, land it fell within half a mile
of this house"
The children screamed, and their
mother turned pale.
"Are we in much danger?" she
asked.
THAT is a hard question TO answer"
replied the colonel, ..but ! do not mind
saying that we should prepare for the
worst. | have often told you about
the Smelling of Vera Cruz. We poured
a hot fire into the city, but when we en-
tered it was surprised to find how few
we had killed"
But, grandpa" said little Tommie,
"you did kill some, didn't your"
ooh, yes" answered the old man.
''quite u number of citizens were killed.
After the surrender saw blood stains
on the walls of my room. 1t seems that
a whole family had been killed there"
AT this TommIe set up a doletul
howl whic'' was swelled by a chorus
from the other children.
.'But this is nothing" said the col
onel, rising from his chair and going
TO the window, 1--WE must expect a few
shells. Possibly there will be a seiee,
but it cannot last very long. You
know our policy is to draw the enemy
this way. We want to get the inva-
ders as far as we possibly can from
their base of supplies"
"Yes, | see," replied his daughter
Yhoughtfully. "but don't you think we
have drawn the enemy far enough in
this directionp"
''Ah," said the veteran with a smile,
'you do not understand the Fabian
policy. Now, /"
If We lead the Yankees on until
they cover the country said the lady,
'lt seems TO me that they will have the
best of it,"
"Nonsense!n blurted out the col
oncl, .'you women know nothing of
the art Of war, and it is well that you
don't. Never make such u remark
again. One would think TO hear you
talk that you were disloyal to the con-
f~ederacv."
"Or course you know. best" RE-
sponded the little woman meekly, f'It
is all n horrible business to me, and
hope that it will soon be over. DBut
how are we to protect ourselves from
the shellsp"
leave that to me-" answered the
Colonel. ''My experience at Vera
Cruz is worth something. The Mex
leans dug pits with b%omb-proof roofs,
and the women and children found
them very COED shelters. l am going
to have one dug at once"
In spite of his years-he was just
seventy-six-thc old gentleman left the
room with the brisk step of a nan who
proposed to take a hand in the de-
fence of the city.
The residence of the colonel was an
old fashioned mansion in IA retired
quarter of the town. The prospect of
n siege created the widest excitement,
and in q short time people could be
seen in every direction engaged in Dig
ging bomb proofs.
Under the colonel's instructions q
large pit was dug, in the shape of an
IL" 1t was not ready for occupation
until the following day, but when it
was finished its h~ill-shaped top, covered
with alternate layers of clay, cord
wood and bar iron, inspired con-
fidence.
For six weeks the little family had to
occupy this underground retreat q good
portion of the time. Sometimes a rain
of shells would arouse them in their
slumbers in the house, and all would
rush precipitately to the cave.
All except the colonel. The Mexican
wal veteran showed no alarm. When
he went into the dug-out he always
made it a point to say that he was
there merely to keep his daughter
and grandchildren from feeling un-
easy.
at is a waste of time to lay siege to
this city," he said one day. Our po-
sition is almost impregnable. and in a
few days achievements will arrive. l
really pity the Yankees. They do not
know what is before them. Iexpectd any
day to see them completely routed, and
most Of them will be taken prisoners"
The fire of the besiegers grew hotter
and hotter, and the inmates of the
C .ionel's household held no commune
cation whatever with the outside world.
Fortunately they were well provisioned,
and were able to live in q fairly COM
fort way.
Every morning the daily paper, a
half sheet printed on wall, was thrown
over the gate.
The colonel always went himself to
pick up this interesting journal. He
would not allow a servant to run the
risk of encountering a stray shell.
1t was a sight to see this white haired
eotJ;ar NTH b;a Cold haoIad oona